Refrigerator unit



May 24,` 1949- c. w. sAvlDGE 2,470,956

REFRIGERATOR UNIT My 24, 1949. A c. w. sAvlDGE 2,470,956

REFRIGERATOR UNIT Filed Aug. 1, 1945 s sheets-sheet 2 4\\ 1,1 l, l l lMay 24, 1949. c. w. sAvlDGE REFRIGERATOR UNH1 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 FiledAug. l, 1945 yfffoyvngg so as to permit quick and Patented May 24, 1949i OFFICE REFRIGERATOR UNIT i Clinton W. Savidge, Minneapolis, Minn.,

assignor to Franklin Transformer Manufacturing Company, Minneapolis,Minn., a copartnership Application August 1, 1945, Serial No. 608,216'

' (c1. ca -116) 7 Claims. l

My present inventionrelates to mechanical refrigerators, and moreparticularly to refrigerators of the type adapted for household use. Thepresent invention is adapted for embodiment in both conventional typesof domestic refrigerators as well as so-called deep-freeze or storagelocker types of refrigerators, -as will be apparent from the followingdescription.

In connection with both conventional refrigerators as well as deepfreeze types of refrigerators for use in the home, the matter of fieldmaintenance and service has long been a major problem and has been ofgreat concern to refrigerator manufacturers because of the necessity ofmaintaining relatively large corps of skilled artisans. To correctcertain defects or faulty conditions of operation of refrigeratorsfrequently necessitates a substantial consumption of time, requiringunder certain conditions, the disconnection and reconnection of certainof the refrigerant carrying conduits and' mechanisms. By reason of thenecessity of having skilled artisans service such refrigerators in theeld` it necessarily follows that rendering such service is oftenrelatively expensive.

One-of the objects of this inventionis to provide'a novel and improvedmechanical refrigerator wherein the entire refrigerating mechanism,including the evaporator unit or units, is constructed as a unitary,self contained instrumentality which may be quickly and easily assembledin and disassembled from operative relation to a heat insulated storagecabinet.

Another object is to provide a novel and improved mechanicalrefrigerator wherein the entire refrigerating mechanism is constructedas a self contained unit, ad-apted to be operably associated with a heatinsulated cabinet in a manner easy replacement of the entire unit byunskilled persons.

A further object is to provide an improvedV mechanical refrigeratorwherein the entire refrigerating mechanism is constructed as aselfcontained, unitary assembly, including an evaporator unit, andwherein the evaporator unity and refrigerator cabinet are so constructedand arranged as to permit disposition of the evaporator unit incontiguous relation to the inner wall of the 'storage chamber of therefrigerator cabinet.

Still another object is to provide an improved refrigerator of thecharacter indicated which is constructed and arranged so as to effectgreat economies in maintenance and service, and wherein the period oftime required for restoring the or locker storage refrigerator toeliicient operating condition is reduced to a minimum. y

A still further object is to provide an improved refrigerator of thecharacter indicated, adapted to be constructed as a deep freeze storageunit, which occupies a relatively small amount of floor space soas toreadily lend itself for use in kitchens, halls and other parts of homesor apartments where available floor space is extremely limited.

With these and other objects in view, my invention consists in the.construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of mydevice whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinaftermore fully set forth, pointed out in my claims and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, wherein: l

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the refrigerator embodying the presentinvention showing the internal compartmental arrangement of the storagechamber.

Figure 2 is a vertical transverse section through the refrigerator.

Figure 3 is an enlarged, horizontal, transverse sectional view throughthe refrigerator, taken substantially as indicated at line 3-3 on Figure2.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view through one of the verticalwalls of the cabinet and through one of the evaporator units, takensubstantially as indicated at line 4 4 on Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view through the lower portion ofone of the evaporator units and mounting therefor, 4and takensubstantially as indicated at line 5-5 on Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a vertical section through a refrigerator embodying amodified form of the present invention, taken substantially as indicatedat line 6 6 on Figure 7, and

Figure 7 is a horizontal sectional view through the lower portion of therefrigerator, taken substantially as indicated at line 'i-'l on Figure6. The refrigerator embodying the present invention as described and asillustrated in the drawings may be understood to be of the deep freezetype, and manifestly it may also be constructed so as to serve as aconven1 tional refrigerator by merely readjusting the refrigeratingmechanism accordingly. If desired, the proportions of the cabinetstructure and arrangement of the interiorof the storage chamber may bealtered in form and dimensions to more suitably serve as a conventionalrefrigerator.

In the construction shown, the refrigerator comprises a cabinet l0,having inner and outer walls II and I2 respectively, disposed in spacedapart relation to each other, with the space between the walls filledwith a suitable heat insulating material, as indicated at I4. The innerwalls of the cabinet define a food storage chamber I5, which is open atits forward side to afford access to the interior thereof. Associatedwith said opening is a hinged door as indicated at I6, which is also ofdouble Wall construction, filled with suitable heat insulated material,as indicated at I1. The bottom portion of the cabient is formed toprovide a mechanism chamber as indicated at I9, disposed below thestorage chamber I5. As may be seen in Figure 2 of the drawings, theouter walls of the cabinet terminate at their lower ends in an inwardlyextending flange 20.

As may be seen in Figures 1 and 3 of ther drawings, each of the twosides of the inner Wall II is formed to provide an inwardly open,upright, elongated cavity 22, extending substantially the entire heightof the storage chamber I5, and in open communication at their lower endswith the mechanism chamber I9, as may be seen in Figures 2, 4 and 5 ofthe drawings. These cavities are adapted to accommodate thereinelongated evaporator units, designated generally at 24.

As shown in the drawings, the evaporator units are so constructed anddimensioned that when disposed in the cavities, the inner surfaces aresubstantially flush and continuous with the inner side walls of thestorage compartment I5 of said cabinet. While the constructionillustrated is preferred manifestly if desired, the inner side wallsdefining the storage chamber of the cabinet might be made flat and theevaporator elements may be directly connected tot the outer surface ofsaid inner walls.

This latter construction,

however, would desirably require the use of sheet metal to form suitablepockets or receptacles into which the evaporator units may beconveniently telescoped into or withdrawn from for purposes as willhereinafter be described.

The storage chamber I5 is provided with a plurality of vertically spacedapart, horizontally extending partitions 30, forming a tier ofvertically arranged compartments 3l. These partitions preferably areglass panels and are supported at their side edges in brackets 32, ofU-shaped cross section, secured to the sides of the inner wall II of thecabinet. The front openings of the compartments 3| are provided withseparate doors 34, hingedly connected to the forward edge of one of thesides of the inner wall I l of the cabinet. The doors 34 are preferablyof transparent material such as glass, so that the foodstuffs within therespective compartments may be readily observed without the necessity ofopening the doors 34. By virtue of such a compartmental arrangement, itis possible to properly and eiiiciently segregate foodstuffs and alsoenable maintenance of order, and easy replacement in or withdrawal offoodstuffs from the respective compartments. This arrangement effects asubstantial conservation of energy and consequent economies of operationas a result of only one compartment being exposed to atmosphere at atime when depositing in or withdrawing items from the respectivecompartments.

The entire refrigerating mechanism is constructed as a self-contained,`unitary assembly adapted to be quickly and easily mounted in properoperative relation to the cabinet IIJ, or withdrawn therefrom, and a newor substitute unit quickly and easily inserted in its place. The

cludes a mounting base 31 on which there is fixedly secured a unitarymechanism 39, comprising a motor, compressor, and condenser. Alsomounted on the base 31 is a solenoid valve 39 and a temperature controlswitch 40.

Each of the evaporator units includes an upright elongated housingcomprising a flat panel 45, and a spaced apart panel 46, having themarginal edges thereof bent and offset and attached to the marginaledges of the panel 45, as clearly seen in Figure 3 of the drawings.These housing members are rigidly connected together, as by welding, andeach has rigidly mounted therein, as by welding or soldering, a at,sinuous tubular coil 48, the opposite ends of which, as may be seen inFigure 5 of the drawings, project downwardly below the sheet metalhousing, and are connected into the refrigerating fluid circulatingsystem.

The evaporator units are mounted in upright, spaced apart relation onthe base 31, by pairs of channel shaped bracket members 49. The upperends of each pair of channels 49 are rigidly attached to a housing ofone evaporator unit as by welding. Thus the evaporator units are fixedlysupported in upright relation directly upon the mounting base 3'1. Forsimplicity in construction, the coils of the respective evaporator unitsmay be connected in series relation.

The switch 40 is connected by a conductor wire 50 to a suitabletemperature responsive device (not shown) mounted within one of theevaporator units, for controlling the operation of the solenoid valve39, which controls the supply of uid refrigerant to the coils of theevaporator units and regulates the temperature of the storage chamberI5, in a manner well understood in the art. Since the mechanism per sedoes not constitute a part of the present invention, it is believedunnecessary to describe its construction and operation in any furtherdetail.

In order to obtain maximum efficiency of the evaporator units, the lowerends -of the cavities 22 formed in the inner walls of the cabinet, andin which the evaporator units are mounted, are closed by sealing gaskets53, supported on plates 54 which in turn are welded to the =two sets ofchannel brackets 49, as clearly seen in Figures 4 and 5 of the drawings.

After the unitary refrigerating mechanism is mounted in the cabinet, theevaporator units are rigidly anchored at top and bottom in the cavities22, formed in the two side walls of chamber I5 of the cabinet, .by meansof screws 55, connected to the recessed outer Iwall portion of thecavities as seen in Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings. The entiremechanism assembly is further xedly connected with respect to thecabinet by a plurality of screws 56, extending upwardly through thebottom of the mounting base 31, and engaged in bosses provided on themarginal flange 20 of theouter walls of the cabinet, as seen in Figure2.

In conventional types of refrigerating units, as well as present-daycommercially available deep freeze refrigerator units, the problem` ofrendering service in the field is extremely costly and time consuming.When it is necessary to disconnect pipes of the evaporator coils in thefield, there is presented dehydration and evacuation problems which areusually attended by the loss of refrigerant when making suchdisconnection and connections.

To disconnect the entire unitary assembly of the refrigerating mechanismfro'm the cabinet unitary refrigerating mechanism assembly inmerelynecessitates the removal of the screws 55 .holding the evaporator unitsin place, and the removal of the screws 58 connecting the mounting baseto the bottom of the cabinet. The cabinet and the mechanism may then bereadily separated one from another by lifting the cabinet upwardly offof the `refrigerating mechanism. The cabinet can then be placed over anew or substitute mechanism, or, a substitute cabinet can be placed overthe same mechanism and the two parts connected in place by the screws55and 56. Thus eld maintenance and servicing of such refrigerators may beperformed expeditiously and economically by unskilled individuals. Therepair or servicing of the removed unitary refrigerating mechanisms maythen be done at the factory, or suitably located service stations, byrelatively few skilled artisans. In the making of such a substitution of:the self-contained unitary'refrigerating mechanism, it is unnecessaryto make any connections or disconnections of the piping or individualmechanisms and thus permits making the `change or substitution in aminimum period of time and thereby reducing to a minimum the -period oftime that the refrigerator is inoperative.

In the modified construction represented in Figures 6 and 7 of thedrawingsl the basic con- 'tor units, indicated generally at 12. One ofthe panels of the housing of each of the evaporator units is ofsubstantial Width and has its rear edge thereof welded to a removablerear panel 13, which is adapted -to be detachably connected to the outerrear wall of the cabinet T by means of screws '14. The evaporator units'i2 are otherlwise of the same genera1 construction as heretoforedescribed and are mounted in fixed relation ,on a mounting base 11together with the other elements of the refrigerating apparatus,designated generally -at 19, as described in connection with theconstruction illustrated in Figures 1 to 5 of the drawings. The rearpanel 13, to `which the evaporator units are rigidly connected, is alsorigidly connected -at its lower end by screws T6 to Ithe mounting base17. Each of the evaporator units 'I2 are secured in position in thecavities of the inner walls of the cabinet by screws 18. Thus to removethe complete, self-contained refrigerating mechanism, merely requiresthe removal of the screws 14 and 18 and the cabinet may then bewithdrawn in a forwardly direction, and separated from theself-contained mechanism. A new unitary assembly or substitute one maybe readily repositioned within the cabinet by telescoping it into therear wall of said cabinet and then by means of the screws 14 and 18rigidly anchoring the unit in xed relation to the cabinet.

Various other arrangements maybe provided for connecting the mountingbase to the cabinet and if desired, anauxiliary base may be provided inthe cabinet upon which the mounting base 'il may .be slidably mountedinto and out of operative relation to said cabinet.'

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of theparts of my device without departing from the real spirit and purpose ofmy invention, and it is my intention to cover by my claims any modifiedforms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents which may bereasonably included within their scope without sacricing any of theadvantages thereof.

Iclaim asmy invention:

1. A refrigerator comprising a double walled, heat insulated cabinetformed to provide a food storage chamber and having a door affordingaccess to the interior of said chamber, each of a pair of oppositevertical walls of the cabinet being formed with an upright, elongatedcavity,'

contiguous to said chamber, for accommodating an evaporator unittherein, and a refrigerating mechanism disengageably associated with.the cabinet and having a pair of spaced apart, upright evaporator unitstelescopicaliy mounted in said cavities for refrigerating said storagechamber.

2. A refrigerator comprising a double walled, heat insulated cabinetformed to provide a food storage chamber and a chamber at the bottomthereof for accommodating refrigerating mechanism, one of the verticalwalls of the cabinet being formed with an upright, elongated cavity,contiguous to the storage chamber, for receiving an evaporator unittherein, said cavity being in open communication at its lower end withsaid bottom chamber, a unitary, self-contained refrigerating mechanismdisengageably associated with said cabinet and comprising operatingmeans, a compressor and condenser apparatus ,disposed in said bottomchamber, and an upright evaporator unit telescoped into said cavity, andmeans mounted on and carried by said evaporator unit for closingthebottom of said cavity.

3. In a refrigerator of the character indicated, a double Walled, heatinsulated cabinet formed to provide a food storage chamber and amechanism chamber at the bottom thereof, said latter chamber being openat the bottom, one vertical wall of the cabinet being formed with anupright elongated cavity, contiguous to and substantially coextensivewith the height of the storage chamber, the bottom of said cavity beingin open communication with said mechanism chamber, a

unitary, self-contained refrigerating mechanism' telescoped into thebottom chamber of said cabinet and detachably connected thereto, andcomprising an upright elongated evaporator unit telescoped into saidcavity, and detachably connectedl thereto, and means for closing thebottom of said cavity.

a double walled, heat insulated cabinet formed to provide a food storagechamber and a mechanism chamber at the bottom thereof, each'of a pair ofopposite side walls of the cabinet vbeing formed with an uprightelongated cavity, contiguous to and substantially coextensive with theheight of the storage chamber, the bottom of each cavity being in opencommunication with said mechanism chamber, one wall of said mechanismchamber being formed with an opening for accommodating refrigeratingmechanism, a unitary, self-contained refrigerating mechanism telescopedthrough said opening into said bottom chamber and detachably connectedtherein, said mechanism comprising a pair of fixed, spaced apart,upright evaporator units telescoped into said cavities and detachablyconnected therein. and means mounted on and carried by said orator unitsfor closing the bottom of said cavities.

5. In a refrigerator of the character indicated,

audace a double walled, heat insulated cabinet formed to provide a foodstorage chamber and a mechanism chamber at the bottom thereof, saidlatter chamber having an opening in the rear wall thereof, each of apair of opposite side Walls of the cabinet being formed with an uprightcavity, contiguous to and substantially coextensive with the height ofthe storage chamber, the rear wall of said cavities being opento permittelescopic entry of evaporator units, a unitary, self-containedrefrigerating mechanism telescoped into said cabinet through saidopenings in the rear wall thereof and detachably connected therein, saidmechanism including a mounting base, compressor and condenser apparatusoperating and control means therefor, disposed in said bottom chamber,and a pair-of spaced apart evaporator units telescoped into saidcavities, and panel means detachably connected to the rear wall of thecabinet for closing said openings.

6.- A refrigerator comprising a double Walled, heat insulated cabinetformed to provide a food storage chamber and a. chamber at the bottomthereof for accommodating refrigerating mechanism, said storage chamberbeing open at its lower end into said bottom chamber, all of thevertical walls of the cabinet being of insulation material, one of thevertical walls having an upright elongated cavity in its inner surface,said cavity having its inner side open to said storage chamber, and saidone wall providing insulation material outwardly of said cavity, andrefrigerating mechanism comprising a compressor, a condenser, operatingand control means therefor mounted in said bottom chamber, and anupright elongated evaporator unit extending through the open lower endof said storage chamber into said cavity and being mounted in saidcavity, said evaporator unit comprising 'a relatively nat sheet metalhousing and a fiat sinuous tubular coil enclosed within said housing,said housing being positioned to constitute a closure for the open innerside of said cavity.

7. A refrigerator comprising a double walled, heat insulated cabinetformed to provide a food storage chamber and a chamber at the bottomthereof for accommodating refrigerating mechanism, a door affordingaccess to the interior of the storage chamber, partition means withinsaid storage chamber to divide the latter into a plurality of separatecompartments, a separate auxiliary door for each compartment, one of thevertical walls of the cabinet being formed with an upright, elongatedcavity, contiguous to the storage chamber, for receiving an evaporatorunit therein, said cavity being in open communication at its lower endwith said bottom chamber, a unitary, self-contained refrigeratingmechanism disengageably associated with said cabinet and comprisingoperating means, a compressor and condenser apparatus disposed in saidbottom chamber, and an upright evaporator unit telescoped into saidcavity, and means for closing the bottom of said cavity.

` CLINTON W. SAVIDGE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,000,787 Philipp May 7, 19352,387,465 Peltier Oct. 23, 1945 2,392,727 Dailey Jan. 8, 1946 2,405,432Kleist Aug. 6, 1946 2,449,343 Torbensen Sept. 14, 1948

